Apple laptops - desktops

This report covers Apple laptops and desktops and the considerations for choosing between PCs and Macs. ConsumerSearch has separate reports on other computers, including desktop and laptop PCs.

Completely objective reviews of Macintosh computers are rare. Several reviewers attempt to compare Macs and PCs, but they often miss the mark by picking inappropriate models to compare. Apple’s desktop and laptop product lines are nicely stratified, with significant price jumps between models. Still, reviewers -- especially most Macintosh magazines -- are reluctant to say that one Apple system is a better value than another. Most Apple computer reviews range from very favorable to entirely favorable. As the all-in-one iMac desktops are essentially laptop computers from a hardware standpoint, the best iMac reviews compare and contrast iMacs with Apple laptops.

Ars Technica has the best reviews of Apple laptops and desktops overall. Evaluations are comprehensive, balanced and backed by thorough, relevant testing. The Ars Technica reviews make outstanding comparisons within the Macintosh lineup. MacUser’s reviews fall short in several areas, but among Mac-only reviewers, the magazine does the best job of providing comparison and relative buying advice within the series of Apple laptops and desktops. Macworld’s testing is very good, and its test results are all published, so patient readers can make their own performance comparisons. MacLife’s reviews are balanced and relatively substantial. Consumer Reports also has some coverage of Apple computers.

Instead of comparing current Mac systems with each other, several reviewers such as Macworld and Consumer Reports make comparisons of dubious value with the previous generation of Apple computers. Few people would be upgrading from such a recent model, and only a minority of Mac enthusiasts knows all about the hardware included in every model.

Among reviewers that cover both Macs and PCs, PC Magazine and NotebookReview.com have the best Apple computer reviews. Reviews are as favorable as those from Mac-only reviewers, but testing provides a greater frame of reference since it includes comparisons with Windows PCs.

The most diminutive Apple laptop is the three-pound MacBook Air. The initial media reaction was frenzied. However, after getting their hands on the MacBook Air, reviewer enthusiasm quickly faded.

The MacBook Air has the same display and keyboard as Apple's other MacBook laptops. The 1.6 GHz MacBook Air (starting at *est. $1,800) comes with 2 GB of RAM and an 80 GB, 4,200 RPM PATA hard drive. The 1.8 GHz MacBook Air (starting at *est. $3,100) is slightly faster and substitutes a 64 GB flash drive for the mechanical hard drive. The flash drive should be much faster and more reliable, but it adds a huge premium; it’s a $1,000 a la carte upgrade to the base model MacBook Air.

Performance and utility for the MacBook Air is dubious in comparison to the regular MacBooks, but for loyalists like Macworld’s Jason Snell, the emotional reaction to the product prevails over practical considerations. Snell admits, "For those to whom the tech specs matter above all else, the MacBook Air can’t be seen as much more than an overpriced, underpowered toy." Yet he concludes, "Once I slipped that three-pound laptop into my backpack and threw the bag over my shoulders, I realized that sacrificing some storage space and some processor power was ultimately worth it for me."

Most reviewers admit that the MacBook Air is expensive and not nearly as functional as other Apple laptops, yet many just don't care. The best market for the Air is probably current Mac owners who don't plan to make the Air their only computer. Rather, it's currently positioned in reviews as an enthusiast “extra” for Macintosh aficionados. Many pundits see the MacBook Air as an unrefined teaser; they believe Apple will produce future slim MacBooks that come closer to being all-things-to-all-people.

If you are trying to decide between buying a Mac and a Windows computer, see our section below (Mac vs. PC) for considerations. Windows laptops and desktops always win purely in a cost/features analysis, but Mac users are willing to pay a big premium for the Macintosh platform and streamlined look. For this report, we've assumed you've already settled on going with a Mac -- but for a detailed discussion, see further below.

The relative reliability of Apple laptops and desktops is controversial. Several major owner surveys show that Apple computers have the best reliability, while others show poor reliability. When owners do have problems, surveys conducted by PC Magazine, Consumer Reports, Macworld and British consumer magazine Which? all show that satisfaction with Apple tech support is higher than with any other brand. User reviews and comments, and several articles, also shed light on the controversy.